Coupling for vehicles of toy and model railroads



M. ERNST 3,408,769

COUPLING FOR VEHICLES OF TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Nov. 5, 1968 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 IN VENT 0R MAX ERNST United States 3,408,769 COUPLIl G FOR VEHICLES OF TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Max Ernst, Lohengrinstrasse 14, Nuremberg, Germany Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,435 Claims priority, application Germany, May 15, 1965, E 29,314 4 Claims. (Cl. 46218) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a coupling for vehicles of toy and model railroads according to which a onepiece coupling hook, preferably produced by injection molding, is provided With a T-shaped extension, while the vehicle frames to be provided with the coupling have their narrow sides provided with chamberg. with a vertical slot in which the T-shaped extensions are located. A pressure spring acts upon the head of the extension and resiliently maintains the coupling hook in its central position. With a coupling of the above mentioned type which represents applicants former design, the chambers for holding the one-piece coupling hook are open toward the bottom where they are covered by a sheet metal part or the like by means of flaps at least partially extending over the chamber openings. These flaps also limit the tilting movement of the coupling sections in downward direction.

It is an object of the present invention to further improve the coupling arrangement as mentioned above.

It is another object of this invention to provide a coupling for cars of toy and model railroads, in which the design and arrangement of the chambers for mounting the coupling books, the employed pressure springs, and the connecting means for the elements covering the chambers will be simplified.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the understructure or undercarriage of a toy freight car with the mounting of the coupling according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the upper structure to be mounted on the understructure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the understructure of FIG. 1 as seen from the top with the front chamber for the mounting of the coupling hook cut open.

A vehicle according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the chambers provided on the understructure of the vehicle are closed toward the bot tom and open toward the top and will be closed by the upper vehicle structure when the latter is mounted on the understructure.

According to a further feature of the invention, the chambers for receiving the T-shaped extension of a coupling hook and the pressure spring are provided in spaced relationship below the platform of the understructure while they are confined at the top by downward extensions arranged on mountings on the vehicle.

ate t The chambers which are provided at the narrow or end sides of the understructure are in conformity with the present invention provided with a front recess of a relatively great width for receiving the head of the T- shaped extension, the depth of said recess exceeding that of the head. Said recess is followed by a relatively narrow chamber section which serves for receiving a pressure spring designed as helical spring.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the upper structure is provided with conical pins adapted to engage corresponding conical bores in the understructure in such a way that the upper structure will be frictionally connected to the understructure.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, the understructure or undercarriage 1 which is formed of a single integral piece, preferably by injection molding, has its end portions provided with extensions 2 injection molded together with the other parts for forming mounting or holding chambers for the coupling hooks. Each chamber 2a has a front chamber section 3 which is relatively wide and of rectangular contour for receiving the head 4 of a coupling hook 5. Chamber section 3 is followed by a narrower chamber section 6 the width and height of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of a helical spring 7 the front portion of which extends into chamber section 3. In the central portion of the outer closing wall of each chamber there is provided a vertical slot 8 for receiving the neck 5a which interconnects head 4 and hook 5. The chamber sections 3 and 6 are closed from the top by the upper vehicle structure, in the present instance by the upper vehicle part 10. The upper vehicle structure 10 has its bottom portion provided with rectangular extensions 9 which hold helical spring 7 and head 4 of the hook in their respective position.

As will be evident from the drawing, coupling hook 5 is adapted to carry out a tilting movement about head 4 in upward direction and toward both sides. Pressure spring 7 is adapted to return the coupling hook to its normal position. The coupling hook is furthermore adapted within chamber section 3 to spring back by a slight distance toward the interior of the vehicle.

It is, of course, also possible to connect the understructure and the vehicle upper structure to each other in a manner known per se by one or two screws or to weld or fuse them together in a non-detachable manner.

According to the particular embodiment shown in the drawing, the vehicle upper structure is provided with four slightly conical studs 11 adapted to be received by corresponding conical bores 12 in the understructure 1. By correspondingly selecting the taper of said conical studs 11 and by selecting a good press-fit in bores 12, the introduction of said conical studs into said bores will assure such a firm frictional connection of the upper structure with the lower structure that these parts can be detached from each other only by employing considerable force.

As has been shown in FIG. 3, the understructure 1 is additionally provided with a central stud 13 and with two thinner studs 14 arranged in longitudinal direction of the understructure ahead of and behind said stud 13. The studs 13 and 14 are intended to position a plate 15 which preferably consists of iron in order to increase the weight of the vehicle. This plate 15 will become invisible after the upper structure 10 has been firmly mounted on the understructure 1.

A vehicle according to the present invention as illustrated in the drawing is combined of a one-piece upper structure 10 and a one-piece understructure 1. If desired, instead of the one-piece upper structure 10, a multipart upper structure may be employed, for instance in the form of a central portion and two brake houses. In this neck connected to instance these houses will cover the holding chambers for i the coupling and will be provided with corresponding connecting means. Instead of the conical pins on the vehicle upper structure, it is, of course, also possible to provide conicalbores and to have the understructure provided with conical pins for fitting into said bores. Instead of the round pins 13 and 14, there may also be provided conical plane surfaces for the same purpose.

The holding arrangement for the coupling hooks according to the present invention has numerous advantages. In particular, a special closing means for the chambers in the understructure will be superfluous thereby considerably simplifying the production and reducing the cost of vehicles of the type involved. The employment of pres sure springs in the form of helical springs in combination with the particular design of the chambers will yield a particularly soft rebound of the coupling hooks when pushing a train While the books can be safely returned to their normal position. Furthermore, such helical springs made of steel wire can be produced at lower cost than leaf springs which are mostly made of Tomba-k sheet metal. Furthermore, the connection of the upper structure to the understructure by means of conical pins saves the employment of screws and correspondingly threaded bores while still permitting the assembly and disassembly of the vehicles.

It is, of course, to be understod that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a rail vehicle for toy and model railroads: a vehicle understruct-ure forming a single in-,

tegral member of substantially rectangular contour, each of the end portions of said understructure confining a chamber with a bottom while being open at the top, each of said chambers having an outer end wall facing in the longitudinal direction of said understructure and being provided with a substantially vertical slot, two coupling members respectively associated with said chambers, each coupling member having a head arranged within the respective chamber pertaining thereto and also having a said head the respective adjacent slot toward the outside of the respective chamber, each coupling member having that portion thereof which is outside said chamber provided with coupling means for engagement with a coupling member; of another raikvehicle, coil spring .means respectively arranged withinsairlchambers and continuously and resiliently urging the respectiveadjacent headtoward the trespecti-ve adjacentslet, rand auvehicle i'upper ,structure mounted upon said understruct'ure and including means closing the openfe'iidfl'ofsaid -'slots"and also including means insaid chamber for holding said spring means in said chambers, the length and thickness of the neck of each coupling member being less than the width and length ofs'ai'd slot pertainingtheretoso'as to permit a limited pivoting movement of said-coupling means in a horizontal and a vertical direction.

-2. An arrangementiaccording to claim u'nderstructure .hasa platform for engagement-with the upperstructure, and in'which the chambersfor receiving means extend receivingand frictionally holding said pins to thereby.

establish firm connection of said upperstructure with said understructure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- Rel 4,354 9 /1957 Hannapel 46-216 X 2,262,199 11/1941 Paulson 46''25 2,599,138 6/1952 Stewart 46-218 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. c. RQWENTZEL, Assistant Examin r.

1, in which said in which 

